For those that have not heard of this race, a bit of background. It is in the picturesque Lake District, Cumbria in the North of England. The Lake district is home to some of the steepest road climbs in the UK, and thus a great road race called he Fred Witton race, in memory of the bloke (180km, winning time of around 6 hours). The ‘Passes’ as they are called are heavy, some as steep at 33% on the inside of the hairpin bends. One is called Kirkstone Pass, and there are two ways up. One longer, steadier way which has a maximum incline of 1 in 5 (20%) or the other, what they call the Struggle, maxing out at 1 in 4 (25%). The struggle is around 5.5km. It could be argued that they are not as hard as some of the Alpine climbs, probably because they are shorter, but in general, they are steeper. Helvellyn is the mountain that you run up. Starting from 150m (492 ft), you climb to 949m (3,114 ft) in around 4km.
So, the course, goes something like this:
SWIM
1,500m in the beautiful lake of Ulswater, with transition in the village of Glenridding. The lakes in the Lake District are very clean, and clear ‘black’ water. Although a little cold, with a wetsuit, they are bearable.
BIKE
60km, basically taking the shortest route around Helvellyn. Riding north along the rolling bank of Ulswater for around 4km, you take a left to go over the moors. This is the first hill. Not too steep, but long. You arrive at a picturesque village called Troutbeck, where you meet the main road of the A66. Taking this you have a long, long descent finishing in a short climb before you peel off left again to take a country lane through St John in the Vale. This is a rolling section. This spits you out at another lake, Thirlmere, where you take the main road towards Ambleside. Again, this is a rolling section (gradually climbing) finishing in a long descent to Grasmere (another lake). Here you head on to Ambleside. As you arrive in Ambleside, you drop out of your big ring, and get ready for some lactate. For the next 5.5km, you are going up hill, and most of it will be out of the saddle. At the top of Kirkstone pass you have a huge descent, where vehicles will pull over to let you pass, as it is not possible for them to pick up any speed due to the sharp bends. This is pretty dangerous on a bike and your brain hurts afterwards from the concentration.
Arriving back to Ulswater, with your legs thrashed, you dive into transition don your fell running shoes (advisable over normal shoes), strap your small backpack on containing full water proofs, food, map, compass and whistle and run out towards the village.
RUN
13km. For those who are not aware of the concept of fell running, fells in the UK are mountains. OK, they aren’t as high as what non-UK residents may call mountains, but they are not to be taken for granted. Glenridding is at about 150m (492 ft), and the summit of Helvellyn is 949m (3,114 ft). On the day of the race the top section was in cloud (or clag as it is known locally). The first km of the run is gentle, and this lulls you into a false sense of security, as all of a sudden, even the fittest of athletes and fell runners are reduce to a walk, each step starting at knee height of your back leg. Up, up, up, until you reach a slightly less steep section where you run across the mouth of Red Tarn (the small lake of a Corrie). Then it’s up again, and then even more up as you hit Swirral Edge. A knife-edge ridge carved by glaciers, the top section requires all four limbs. At the top of this you bear right and start your descent to about 750m (2,461 ft) and then up again to around 840m (2,756 ft). If you think up is hard, down is torture if you haven’t run down a mountain before. You descend to 150m (492 ft) in less than 5km.
The winning time was 3:29:56 (21:15, 1:46:46, 1:21:54); the slowest time was 6:41:14. The support was wonderful, with fell walkers stopping to watch on the mountain, and cheer you on. Race organiser Rob Wilkins did a great job.
You’re right though - who needs an excuse. Just to go and sit there is good enough!